A purple flag at the beach signals dangerous marine life—an often-ignored warning that could protect you from serious harm in the water

lifeguards raise the flag after directly spotting marine animals in the water. Other times, the decision is based on recent sightings, seasonal migration patterns, shifting currents, or weather conditions known to bring marine life closer to shore.

The key thing to understand is this:

A purple flag does not automatically mean the beach is closed.

It means continue reading …